When Air Force left Brooks, city arrived with a passion

Updated 10:31 am, Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Manuel Pelaez-Prada, shown in Sevilla, is looking for Spanish investments in Brooks City-Base.

Manuel Pelaez-Prada, shown in Sevilla, is looking for Spanish investments in Brooks City-Base.

Photo: DAVID HENDRICKS, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

When Air Force left Brooks, city arrived with a passion

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During this election season, much is being said about government acting as an obstacle to progress; in many cases, this is true. There are some instances, however, when government does its job well. Brooks City-Base is one such example.

When it looked as if San Antonio would suffer the loss of two air force bases, Kelly and Brooks, the decision to close them created anxiety among stakeholders and individuals whose livelihood depended on the bases. In response, the community took proactive measures to mitigate the damage and spur job creation and business investment by creating economic generators. In 2002, by act of Congress, the city of San Antonio took ownership of Brooks Air Force Base and created the Brooks Development Authority to own, manage and redevelop the property.

Unlike examples of government waste and misspent taxes, the Brooks project proved to be one of the smartest investments the city of San Antonio ever made. Why? Because we chose to employ well-established business practices like strategic spending, return-on-investment analysis, continuous improvement and aggressive customer service. Brooks became a business promoter and our business practices are paying off.

In the 10 years since its creation, we transformed Brooks City-Base into a nationally recognized business campus and mixed-use development where people can live, work and play. More than 1,600 jobs have been created with an average salary of $48,500. Dozens of important employers chose Brooks' 1,200-acre campus as their new home. They include Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, DPT Laboratories, NuStar Energy, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, VMC Consulting and the Spine and Pain Center of San Antonio, to name a few. In total, there has been more than $350 million in real estate development and another $200 million is currently planned.

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The redevelopment of Brooks City-Base also includes quality residential living at The Landings at Brooks City-Base. Brooks partnered with the NRP Group to develop this community of upscale apartments that also includes a community center, attached garages and carports, a club-like pool and state-of-the-art fitness center. In addition, former military homes were redeveloped into what is known as Heritage Oaks at Brooks City-Base, a community of quality single and multi-family homes. The properties are currently leased at an astounding 99 percent.

Most impressive of all is the surge of retail development around Brooks City-Base. Once a quiet stretch of roadway, the S.E. Military corridor along Brooks' northern boundary now boasts premium retail and dining including H-E-B Grocery, City-Base Cinema, James Avery Jewelers, Starbucks, Anytime Fitness, Best Buy, Target, Johnny Carino's, Chili's, Lowe's and many more.

To preserve the character and quality of life at Brooks, we set aside more than 180 acres for quality green space and paved pathways to connect transit stops to the Mission Trail and Salado Creek linear park. The historic Hangar 9 building, a recognized National Historic Landmark, will remain a local treasure as plans are in the works for a historic district and a museum to celebrate the history of the property.

When the U.S. Air Force formally left Brooks in 2011, it presented an opportunity to expand Brooks' business footprint. Continued investment in infrastructure and innovative land-use strategies will ensure Brooks City-Base remains a premier destination for businesses seeking to expand or relocate. Brooks City-Base's success will serve as a shining example of what can happen when the city of San Antonio and private business join forces to create jobs and business success.